Patagonian Expedition Race
The Patagonian Expedition Race 2016 is Underway
Rob Howard / 16.02.2016
After all the training, preparation, travel, testing and packing it was finally time for the teams to get on the bus to head to the start of the 2016 Patagonian Expedition Race.
After leaving all their kit boxes with the race and packing their bags for the start it was a 01.00am departure from Punta Arenas for the 300km ride to the start. With the nerves and anticipation, and the rough dirt track road for the last 2 hours it was a restless ride to Faro Dungenes and for those who could not sleep there was not much to see except the flares of the many oil and gas installations along the narrow strip of Chilean coastline bordering the entrance to the Magellan Strait.
As it got light and the end of the bus ride approached they could see an expanse of grassy arid plain stretching out into Argentina on one side, and the sea with Tierra Del Fuego in the distance on the other. As the Race Director had promised there was not a tree in sight, the few scrub bushes that cling to life in the incessant wind barely reach half a metre in height.
The wind could be felt buffeting the bus and after pulling past the small lighthouse at journey’s end teams felt its full force when they stepped off the bus. The blast was a shock and very rapidly they reached for any extra windproofs, hats, gloves, buffs and face coverings they had!
Having arrived at the Atlantic Coast of Chile they will be out in the wilds of Patagonia for the next 10 days on an incredible adventure and the nerves and tension ratcheted up. I tried to speak to a few of the racers but they were wrapped up with their own thoughts and not saying much. It was almost impossible to speak against the roar of the wind and through the face coverings anyway!
Only the megaphone instructions to move to the start just before 8am which could really be heard. It had been decided the river just along the coast was passable in the rising tide and a few flags on the beach right by the lighthouse were set up as the start line.
Right on time at 08.00 Stjepan Pavicic waved them off into the wind and the race was underway! Pavicic was smiling happily as the teams headed along the shore on the stony beach with Merrell Adventure Addicts bringing up the rear, starting slowly and enjoying the moment to the full.
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